New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-09-26
WEE Glass OF CITIZENS

The movement among EnsIishmcn, Scotcne
mon and Canadians throughout the country
TO become citizens is one Of great Importance
They constitute the only nationaiit'es--or
nationality, for they are practically one-wno
show high order of intelligence, ana VINO
vet have, to a large extent RETAINED nom
identifying themselves fully with their adopted
country. Their number is greater than many
realize. II is estimated that there are IN
Massachusetts more than $4,000 unnaturaizcd
EngIishmen and Scotchmen. in the CITY OF
New Haven alone there are said 10 De o'ooo'
The chief centre of interest in tins question
lust now is Chicago where nine Eng'iSn
societies are cooperating toward this eno' anu
expect the Scotch, Welsh and Canadians 10
ioin them. The figures Of the size OF thesc
elements are necessarily only approximate
but they show that this movement may nave
a decidedly apprcciable effect upon tho vote
in that city. There are said to be 2o,Ooo
Canadians In Chicago, OF whom only 2,5oo
are naturalized, and $4,000 EngiIshmen, OIL
whom even smaller proportion are believed
TO be citizens Even allowing for exaggeration
in these figures, it will be seen that this Gle
n,cnt might do a good deal more than hold
and with their votes cast on the side OF pubic
honesty and municipal economy, as most OF
them doubtless would be, they could exercise
a great influence for good. In the pubic
utterances thus far made by these bodies in
different parts of the Union, they have shown
themselves strong friends Of the common
school system, and especially determined T."
check public corruption.
Native Americans, and all patriotic citizens,
will gladly welcome this new element into inc
great fraternity of citizenship The very
strength of their attachment to The mother
country, which has probably been their chief
reason for continuing their allegiance to her so
long, viii make them the best OF American
citizens when they have once been natnraiized.
They arc among the most intelligent OF our
alien residents. Their traditional sturdiness
will make them Independent in political action
No one will ever hear OF Boss carrying the
English or Scotchor Canadianvotc in his pocket.
1t is only fair to say, at the same tsmc' that
their assumption Of their full duties as Amer
lean citizens has been delayed long enough.
It is time that they should vote, serve on
inrics and perform the other duties of citizen
ship with the rest Of us. When so many OF
the vexatious problems OF our National iifc
arise from the presence in the country OF
great numbers of uneducatcd and even law
less foreigners, it would pc eminentiy appro-
pirate, to say the least, that all intelligent
and Iaw-abiding foreigners should do what
ever lies in their power to help along tho
canse of good government.
The proportion of the English element In
our population is not fully realized, perhaps,
BY many The census Of 1880 showed 1,634,-
755 persons born in the British Empire, IN
eluding British America but excluding ire
land In other words, the number Of persons
born on the soil Of Great Britain and the
Colonies was only 219,s16 less than the num-
Der of those born in Ireland. In New-York
City there were by the census of 1850 more
than 10000 persons born in Great Britain
and the Colonies, excluding Ireland. How
many of these are naturalized? II would be
interesting TO knew. In Philadelphia there
were more than $4,000 such persons. At the
present time these figures would probably need
TO be considerably increased, as the immigra-
tion from the British Empire has been large
during the past ten years. 1t has reached
point where it exceeds the immigration from
Ireland Up to the first Of August there were
$500 more immigrants from Great Britain
this year than from Ireland, as shown by the
figures of the Bureau of Statistics. Obviously.
the British Americans can be power in our
politics, and in way with which no one can
End any fault.